Sports Bulletin

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (SB Report):-The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel today announced the squads for the West Indies Men’s team tour of Pakistan. The series will feature three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals (T20Is) from December 13 to 22 at the National Stadium in Karachi. The panel named a number of uncapped players in both formats. For the ODIs, the newcomers are batters Justin Greaves, Shamarh Brooks, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and fast bowling allrounder Odean Smith. Smith and Motie are also selected in the T20I squad for the first time, along with left-arm fast bowling allrounder Dominic Drakes. Motie was a travelling reserve for the recent ICC T20 World Cup, while Drakes and Smith were net bowlers before the start of the tournament. Lead Selector, Roger Harper said: “There are a number of talented newcomers in each format that will have the opportunity to show what they are capable of at the international level. Justin Greaves is a very talented player, had a good CG Insurance Super50 tournament and performed well in the President’s XI match against Ireland in 2020. Odean Smith really grabbed our attention in the last CPL. His pace was never in question, however he has added greater control and has displayed the ability to be a wicket-taker. “Shamarh Brooks batted well in the CG Insurance Super50 Cup and followed that up with good performances in the CPL. He will lend greater depth to the batting line-up. Gudakesh Motie has been rewarded for his outstanding performance in the CG Insurance Super50, followed up by his showing in the CPL. Dominic Drakes has the potential to be an outstanding all-rounder as he displayed during the last CPL.” Harper added: “The ODIs in Pakistan are part of the ICC ODI Super League where points gained work towards qualification for the ICC World Cup 2023. So these ODI’s are very important to us and are being treated as such.” The ODI Series will be West Indies fourth series of 12 in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League in which the top seven teams can secure automatic qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. West Indies currently lie in eighth position out of 13 teams and have the opportunity to move above Pakistan into seventh position. Names of Players: One-Day Internationals Kieron Pollard (Captain), Shai Hope (Vice Captain), Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Nicholas Pooran, Raymon Reifer, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Junior, T20 Internationals Kieron Pollard (Captain), Nicholas Pooran (Vice Captain), Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Junior. Schedule: December 13 – 1st T20I, Karachi December 14 – 2nd T20I, Karachi December 16 – 3rd T20I, Karachi December 18 – 1st ODI, Karachi December 20 – 2nd ODI, Karachi December 22 – 3rd ODI, Karachi

Karachi (Sports Report):-Central Punjab’s wicketkeeper Junaid Ali has been banned for three matches for a level 3 offence for attempting to take an unfair advantage during the sixth-round Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22 match against Southern Punjab at the State Bank of Pakistan Stadium. Junaid was found to have claimed an unfair catch in violation of Article 2.15 of the PCB Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, after the match officials reviewed the video footage during Southern Punjab’s first innings on day-one of the four-day fixture. The incident occurred in the 72nd over of the innings with Muhammad Imran the batter dismissed. On-field umpires Waleed Yaqub and Imtiaz Iqbal levelled the charge on the wicketkeeper, who accepted imposition of the three-match ban sanction proposed by match-referee Iftikhar Ahmed from the range of applicable sanctions pursuant to the Code.

Karachi (Sports Report):-Young leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed took his maiden first-class ten-wicket haul as Sindh registered their first win of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22 season. Resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 132 for five, Balochistan were bowled out for 158 runs to hand Sindh a comprehensive innings and 188-run victory at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi in the sixth-round tie. Sindh bowlers led by Abrar ran through the Balochistan lower-order in less than 10 overs on day-three to ensure a comprehensive victory for their side. Abrar who took six wickets for 40 runs was ably supported by seasoned pacer Sohail Khan who took three wickets for 41 runs, the right-armer also reached the 500 first-class wickets milestone during the innings. This was the 117th first-class match of the 37-year-old’s career. Abrar and Sohail combined to take 18 wickets in the match (Abrar 11, Sohail seven). Ayaz Tasawar (45) was the top-scorer for Balochistan in their second innings. Sindh gained 28 points (maximum available in a match) while Balochistan had to content with a mere three. In the Punjab derby between Central and Southern Punjab at the State Bank of Pakistan Stadium Karachi which is being live streamed on PCB’s YouTube channel, Central Punjab opener Rizwan Hussain added 100 runs to his overnight 153-run tally as his side took control of the match. The left-handed Rizwan hit 34 fours and three sixes in his monumental batting effort that came off 337 balls. Rizwan was eventually dismissed by Salman Ali Agha. Rizwan found good support from Ahmed Safi Abdullah (24) while pacer Nisar Ahmed scored a quickfire 54 off 53 balls (six fours, three sixes) to propel Central Punjab to their 459-run total. Aamer took five wickets for Southern Punjab conceding 122 runs in 28.4 overs. Muhammad Imran took two wickets. Central Punjab made most of their 199-run first innings lead by reducing Southern Punjab to 105 for five in their second innings at stumps on day three. Pacer Bilawal Iqbal took three wickets for a mere 12 runs in 6.5 overs as Southern Punjab’s top and middle-order fell cheaply. Yousuf Babar was unbeaten on 30 and Southern Punjab will be homing for a major contribution by him and the lower-order batters if they are to avoid an innings defeat tomorrow. Over at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex, Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa took a 34- run first innings lead over Northern, courtesy an unbeaten 128 from Adil Amin who had resumed his innings at 104 today. Adil remained unbeaten as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were bowled out for 284 in 93.4 overs. Pacer Kashif Ali took five wickets for 45 while Zaid Alam took two for 34. Northern were well-served by Umar Amin in their second innings as the seasoned left-hander posted his 23rd first-class century. Umar hit 12 fours in his gritty 196-ball effort, Mubasir Khan who fell four short of a century in the first innings made another healthy contribution for his side scoring 52 with the help of seven fours. Northern finished the day at 240 for six after 66 overs of their second innings. They will start the final day tomorrow with a 206-run lead with four wickets in hand, the match is set to have an exciting finish if Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can get rid of the remaining Northern batters in time for a fourth innings chase. Irfanullah Shah and Asif Afridi took two wickets each for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Scores in brief: Sindh beat Balochistan by an innings and 188 runs – UBL Sports Complex, Karachi Balochistan 96 all out, 31.5 overs (Imran Butt 33; Abrar Ahmed 5-23, Sohail Khan 4-26) and 158 all out, 43.2 overs (Ayaz Tassawar 45, Imran Butt 35; Abrar Ahmed 6-40, Sohail Khan 3-41) Sindh 442 all out, 95.2 overs (Ahsan Ali 194, Khurram Manzoor 94, Saad Khan 56; Khurram Shehzad 3-80, Akif Javed 2-54) Match points: Sindh - 28, Balochistan - three. Southern Punjab vs Central Punjab –State Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi Southern Punjab 228 all out, 77 overs (Umar Siddiq 85, Salman Ali Agha 61, Waqas Maqsood 4-52, Muhammad Ali 4-57) and 105 for 5, 28.5 overs (Yousuf Babar 30 not out, Salman Ali Agha 21; Bilawal Iqbal 3-12) Central Punjab 459 all out, 116.4 overs (Rizwan Hussain 253, Muhammad Saad 61, Nisar Ahmed 54; Aamer Yamin 5-122, Muhammad Imran 2-74) First innings points: Central Punjab - nine, Southern Punjab - four. Northern vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa –National Bank of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi Northern 250 all out, 83.4 overs (Mubasir Khan 96, Muhammad Huraira 70; Arshad Iqbal 2-38, Sameen Gul 2-41) and 240 for 6, 66 overs (Umar Amin 110, Mubasir Khan 52; Irfanullah Shah 2-33, Asif Afridi 2-58) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 284 all out, 93.4 overs (Adil Amin 128 not out, Asif Afridi 62; Kashif Ali 5-45, Zaid Alam 3-34) First innings points: Northern - six, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - seven.

BIPIN DANI  Sri Lanka's outgoing head coach Mickey Arthur was visibly happy at the end of the first Test match against the visiting West Indies team. The home team won the rain and bad-light affected match by a massive 187 runs. The victorious team had no big celebration after the first Test. Maybe it is reserved for the series win. "The hotel made a cake for the winning Sri Lankan team and also arranged bottles of beer", one of the hotel staff speaking exclusively over the telephone from Galle, said.  "Only the foreign coaching staff drank the beer in a small quantity. The players did not taste it. They (the players) cut the cake made for them", the source added. Mickey Arthur in his speech asked the players to go for the series win rather than only being content with the first Test win or drawn series", the other source added. The players are determined to win the second Test beginning on Monday and give a farewell gift to their head coach. The team was given a day off on Friday and the next training session is scheduled for Saturday.

Chittagong (SB Report):-A brilliant maiden Test century by Liton Das’ lifted Bangladesh to 253 for four after they had been reduced to 49 for four on day one of the first Test against Pakistan at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Bangladesh on Friday. The wicketkeeper-batter was unbeaten on 113 off 225 balls as he smashed 11 fours and a six during a solid 204-run undefeated fifth wicket stand with Mushfiqur Rahim, who was not out on 82. The hosts found themselves in a spot of bother in the morning session when Pakistan removed top four batters in a span of 58 minutes. Those, however, were the only wickets to fall on the day, as the pair of Liton and Mushfiqur pushed back the opposition during a remarkable rearguard effort. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan and Faheem Ashraf took a wicket each. The play was suspended in the latter half of the evening session because of fading light as 85 overs were bowled and the second day’s play will begin 11 minutes before the scheduled start to make up for the lost time. Scores in brief: Bangladesh 253-4, 85 overs (Liton Das 113 not out, Mushfiqur Rhaim 82 not out)

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-Chris Gayle praised the Abu Dhabi T10 for its non-stop action, while criticising modern openers in the 20-over format for “killing the game” with a more cautious approach to power-plays. With two ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winners’ medals to his name and more runs than any other player in the history of 20-over cricket, Gayle has been central to the rise of franchise cricket all over the world. And now, while playing for Team Abu Dhabi in the Abu Dhabi T10, Gayle says cricket’s 10-over version is setting new standards when it comes to explosive batting and, ultimately, entertainment. “I think, with T10 cricket, that’s how T20 cricket started. From the first over, batters used to go but T20 cricket has slowed down dramatically and T10 cricket has now raised the bar a bit,” said Gayle. “They’re killing the entertainment in T20 cricket, straight up, because in those first six overs, we can get more as openers but guys are taking their own time. Sometimes they bat to get a score and they take away from the fire they should be bringing to the batting department in the first six overs, but T10 is spot on and hopefully we’ll see more T10 coming around. “I don’t know why batters get so cagey during the first six overs. When T20 cricket started, guys were going from ball one, if you really check the history of T20 cricket looking back on it. I don’t like that fact, I think we should go hard, keep the entertainment that is within the game of T20 cricket and continue to keep that aggression in the first six overs.” Team Abu Dhabi are currently top of the Abu Dhabi T10 table with five wins from five matches and Gayle is clearly having fun in his second year with the franchise. Gayle is also confident that this could be the year that Team Abu Dhabi to lift their first T10 title. “Absolutely, I am enjoying my second year with Team Abu Dhabi and we’ve had a great start but anything can happen in T10 in such a short space of time,” he added. “I’m happy with where the team is at the minute and hopefully this is Team Abu Dhabi’s year.”

Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD:-Islamabad Disabled defeated Peshawar Disabled to reach in the final of the after an easy match to qualify for the final of the International Committee Red Cross (ICRC) Presents Shaid Afridi Foundation (SAF) 7th National Disabled T20 Cricket Championship. The final will be played in Karachi on December 3, 2021, on the occasion of International disables persons day.  In the first semi-final of the ongoing National Championship was organized by Pakistan Feasibility Disabled Cricket Association at Bhutto Ground Islamabad. Islamabad Disabled defeated Peshawar Disabled by 73 runs after a one-sided contest and advanced to the title match. Peshawar Disabled won the toss and invited Islamabad Disabled to bat first. Islamabad Disabled scored 194 runs for the loss of two wickets in 20 overs. Adil Abbasi scored 89 off 63 balls with the help of eight fours and two sixes while Mohammad Noman Scored 65 off 48 balls with the help of eight fours. Both of them scored 168 runs in the first wicket partnership which laid the foundation for victory. Waqif Shah scored 22 off eight balls, including three fours and a six. Nahar Alam and Osama took one wicket each for Peshawar Disabled. In reply, Peshawar Disabled team got out at 121. Adeel Khan scored 30 off 17 balls with the help of 6 fours and Wajid Alam scored 21 runs. Waqif Shah from Islamabad Disabled broke the back of Peshawar Disabled by taking 5 wickets for 13 runs. He also made a brilliant hat trick. Zubair Khan took two wickets for 17 runs. Waqif Shah was declared man of the match.

Harare (SB Report):-Zimbabwe's last wicket pairing got the hosts across the line against USA while Ireland and Thailand got two points on board at the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifiers in Harare. THAILAND BEAT BANGLADESH 8 WICKETS Thailand's decision to bowl first worked out very well for them, dismissing Sharmin Akhter and captain Nigar Sultana inside the Powerplay. In a spot of bother early at 14/2, Murshida Khatun and Fargana Hoque strung together a solid 84-run stand. Both of them fell within a span of 3.1 overs with Hoque getting to her fifty but Khatun fell four runs short. Ritu Moni's stay at the crease did not last long. With three quick wickets falling, Rumana Ahmed and Lata Mondal steadied the ship with a partnership worth 52 runs for the sixth wicket. Nattaya Boochatham picked up three wickets in the final over of the innings to complete her five-for as Bangladesh finished on 176/8. Openers Sornnarin Tippoch and Natthakan Chantham began solidly for Thailand and knocked off more than half the runs with their first-wicket stand. Both the batters were extremely cautious in their approach, taking 28 overs to score 97 runs of the partnership. Bangladesh dismissed both the openers in a span of six overs after which Nannapat Koncharoenkai and captain Naruemol Chaiwai took control of the innings. With rain playing spoilsport, players had to retreat into the dressing room. The match was eventually called off, with Thailand winning by DLS method. IRELAND BEAT NETHERLANDS BY 29 RUNS Openers Leah Paul and Gaby Lewis have recently made a habit out of providing Ireland with great starts and they didn't disappoint after being asked to bat first. The duo put on a 61-run stand, before Caroline de Lange put the brakes on scoring by scalping both the openers. Ireland lost wickets in a heap and found themselves at 85/5, with Eva Lynch dismissing Shauna Kavanagh and Orla Prendergast off consecutive deliveries.  Skipper Laura Delany and Eimear Richardson had to pull off the rescue act and drag Ireland out of trouble, adding 85 runs for the sixth wicket. Heather Siegers ran through the rest of the batting order with a four-wicket haul, including the wicket of Delany and Richardson as Ireland folded for 199. Prendergast made up for her duck in the batting innings by dismissing Juliët Post for nought in the third over. Babette de Leede and Sterre Kalis weathered the early storm with a 59-run partnership. Once de Leede was dismissed for 34, Robine Rijke joined Kalis at the crease. Their 73-run partnership took the Netherlands close to victory, though Kalis fell short of a well-deserved half-century by just three runs. Needing to go run-a-ball in the last 10 overs with seven wickets in hand, it seemed a simple chase for the Dutch. Two run-outs, including that of skipper Siegers, changed the dynamic of the game before Prendergast struck to dismiss the well-set Rijke for 56. Needing 35 from the last four overs, the pressure of the asking rate got to the Netherlands as they succumbed to a 29-run defeat. The Dutch, who were cruising at 158/3, were skittled out for 170. ZIMBABWE BEAT USA BY 1 WICKET Put in to bat first, Gargi Bhogle and Mahika Kandanala gave USA a solid start in the Powerplay, putting on 38 runs for the first wicket before departing in quick succession. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals, losing Lisa Ramjit and Shebani Bhaskar in a span of six overs. The wicket of skipper Sindhu Sriharsha for 22 triggered a collapse as the rest of the batting unit fell apart. Tara Norris offered some resistance with a 23-ball 18 which included three boundaries but found no support from the lower order. USA, who were 89/4 at one point, were skittled out for 131 with Loreen Tshuma the pick of the bowlers with figures of 10-2-19-3. Modester Mupachikwa and Sharne Mayers got Zimbabwe off to blazing starting, stitching together 57 runs of the target in under 10 overs. Despite losing both openers soon after, it looked like the hosts were cruising to victory before they collapsed in stunning fashion. Moksha Chaudhary ran riot with the ball, claiming four wickets in a span of four overs. From 73/2, Zimbabwe were seven down for 87. At this stage, every small partnership was worth gold. Precious Marange and Loryn Phiri added 10 runs for the eighth wicket before Marange and Nomvelo Sibanda put on 18 runs for the ninth. Once Marange got out, it was down to the No. 10 and 11 batters Nomvelo Sibanda and Francisca Chipare to get Zimbabwe across the line. At that point, they still needed 17 runs. Chipare found the ropes twice in the next over to release the pressure and finished the game off in style with a boundary as Zimbabwe got across the line by the barest of margins.

BIPIN DANI  Sri Lanka's national selector Romesh Kaluwitharana, who turned 52 on Wednesday "politely" refused to celebrate his birthday. As per the policy adopted by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board, one national selector remains with the team and former wicket-keeper Kaluwitharana has been in the bio bubble and staying at the team hotel. "The team members did wish him on his birthday and invited him to cut the cake prepared by the hotel. However, he politely refused the invitation", one of the hotel sources speaking exclusively, said. "He does not like the present tradition of celebrating the birthday where the cake is applied all over the face and is only a waste of food".      "Keeping the distance from the players (so as to enable him to protect his face from being cake-painted), he straight away headed to his room after the completion of the fourth day's play of the first Test match". 

Dubai (SB Report):-Nearly 10,000 hours of live coverage – more than ever before - offered across TV and digital platforms in 200 countries at the back of increased viewership and consumption in India, Pakistan, UK, Australia and the strategic market of USA. Cricket and sports fans across the world enjoyed unparalleled coverage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, when the tournament returned after five years. The pinnacle of the shortest format of the sport offered explosive cricket and entertainment for everyone and featured cricket’s biggest names and best teams.  The event, the biggest ever cricket tournament to be staged in the UAE and Oman, broke viewership records in several regions, including garnering a record television reach of 167 million, and a record consumption of 15.9 billion minutes in India on the Star India Network, for the highly-anticipated India-Pakistan clash. The encounter is now the most viewed T20I match in history, exceeding the previous high of the India-West Indies semi-final match from the 2016 edition of the ICC event held in India. The overall TV consumption for the full tournament in India was recorded at 112 billion minutes, this despite India’s early exit from the tournament. Viewership share amidst younger audiences in India (children below the age of 15) was at a healthy 18.5% at the back of a highly successful marketing campaign “Live the Game” targeting a younger demographic. In the UK, viewership for the India v Pakistan match grew by 60% on Sky UK whereas the overall viewership for the market went up by 7%. In Pakistan, the event was being broadcast by three players for the first time namely PTV, ARY and Ten Sports, which led to further growth in viewership by 7.3% compared to the 2016 edition of the event.  In Australia, the viewership increased by 175% on the Fox Network. In the USA, which the ICC recently named as one of the focus markets for the sport, the tournament was the most viewed cricket tournament ever on ESPN+. ICC’s partnership with Facebook was a driver for the significant increase in video views, with a total of 4.3 billion views across all channels for the tournament, compared to 3.6 billion views which were garnered for the 2019 edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The consumption across ICC’s digital assets also grew, recording a total of 2.55 billion minutes. ICC’s social media channels also saw a significant growth in engagement at 618 million across those platforms, which is a 28% jump since the 2019 edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said: “We are pleased with these outstanding global viewership numbers, that demonstrate the power of T20I cricket to attract a huge audience across the globe on linear and digital platforms. It reinforces our belief that there is a significant opportunity and appetite to grow the game in our strategic growth markets including the USA, so more fans can enjoy it, more kids are inspired by it and sponsors and broadcasters want to be a part of it.”